Unplug electrical appliances if flooding causing power outage

Due to the recent high levels of rain, Xcel Energy is reminding people to take precautions to help them protect their in-home electronic devices. The flooding in the area has the potential to cause sporadic power outages.

If a power outage does occur, while crews are working on restoration, here’s what you can do:

• Unplug or turn off sensitive electric appliances and equipment (TVs, computers, etc) you think were on before your power went out to avoid overloading circuits and fire hazards when power is restored. Simply leave a single lamp or radio on to alert you when power returns. Turn your appliances back on one at a time when conditions return to normal.

• Don’t wire an emergency generator into your home electrical system. Backfeed into power lines could injure or kill a lineman working to get electricity restored.

• Use your generator only to run specific appliances, and locate it outside so poisonous carbon monoxide fumes don’t enter your home.

• Lower the thermostat on all your electric heat sources to an absolute minimum. Once your power comes back on, wait a half hour before you return your thermostat to a normal setting. If your furnace doesn’t kick in, call your heating/ventilation/air conditioning dealer.

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